Houston
AstroDome
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Replies: "I love the idea
of making the dome into a business hub. It is very forward thinking and away from the
usual ideas around entertainment. I support this and as you dig more into the
details, I hope many others will also. Debra H."

"I am
absolutely awed by what you are doing to convert and preserve the Astrodome! WOW! What a
concept! Hopefully you are getting many, many people behind this idea so it can go viral.
Louise D."

Dome proposal by the Rodeo and Texans reveals a boomtown short-term mentality.

There
is something uniquely Houston about tearing down a historic structure to build a memorial
commemorating the history of that very structure. But that is exactly what the Houston
Livestock Show and Rodeo and the Texans have suggested in their recent proposal for the
future of the Astrodome.

Harris
County Judge Ed Emmett minced no words when he called it a silly plan.

Those
two primary tenants of NRG park pitched their $66 million idea to county commissioners two
weeks ago, which involves razing the Dome and replacing it with green space, including
historic markers and possible event stages. It seems like a less ambitious version of the
steel-skeleton idea proposed by University of Houston architecture graduate student Ryan
Slattery.

Weve
previously supported the idea of turning the Dome site into something resembling a
Discovery Green - South, but only as a last resort. This proposal falls short
of that standard, lacking the ambition and easy access, not to mention funding necessary
to create a park that can match Discovery Green. This plan also feels far too willing to
ignore the potential that continues to exist in the Eighth Wonder of the World.

Emmett
has opposed any demolition, and says that this proposal is a nonstory. After all, the
Dome belongs to the citizens of Harris County, not a professional sports team.

But
it is hard to ignore a plan sponsored by the two largest users of the NRG complex,
especially given that theyve remained generally quiet through all the past ideas,
but for their own previously proposed demolition and parking lot plan.

That
deafening silence was long taken as evidence that the Texans and Rodeo were playing the
long game, waiting for voters to grow exhausted with the whole process until they finally
throw up their hands and say: Demolish the thing, already!

Hard-working
Houstonians pour years of their lives and sweat of their brows into building our city,
only to see their contributions fall before the self-proclaimed progress of short-term
interests. Perhaps it is an appropriate symbol of our boomtown mentality, where we drill
for black gold that will be burned into nothing, used only once and then forgotten.

Our
city should have something more than a 15-minute attention span. We cannot establish a
solid future if we consistently uproot our past. Houston must be a place that is willing
to invest in itself  a vision that men like Roy Hofheinz once had.

This
page is being continually revised. Check back for updates.Editorial by C. Dean Kring, who is solely responsible for
content.Provided as a public service by Services Cooperative AssociationPast
Clients. Endorsements.C. Dean Kring ~ Director
of ResearchTHE
DOME COOPERATIVE IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS, HARRIS COUNTY, THE CITY OF
HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY-HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY, HARRIS COUNTY SPORTS AND CONVENTION
CORPORATION, THE HOUSTON TEXANS, OR THE HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO. NONE OF
THESE ENTITIES HAS AUTHORIZED THE DOME COOPERATIVE TO CONDUCT ANY FEASIBILITY STUDY.

THE
DOME COOPERATIVE IS AN INDEPENDENT PRIVATE ENTITY HAVING ITS PRINCIPAL MISSION AS
RE-PURPOSING THE DOME AS A BUSINESS CENTER UNLIKE ANY IN THE WORLD. ALL
COMMUNICATIONS OF THE DOME COOPERATIVE ARE TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF RE-PURPOSING
THE DOME, INCLUDING SUPPORT FOR POTENTIAL MEMBER COMPANIES.